Bustle



(No Model.) I v i T. P. TAYLOR.

BUSTLE. 4 No. 374,216. Patented Dec. 6, 1887.

WITNESSES I N NTOR .72.... 2 @fl N. PETERS. Phowulho ngher. Wahingkm.mt.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS P. TAYLOR, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT.

BUSTLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 374,216, dated December6, 1887.

Application filed September 26, 1887. Serial No. 250,687.

To all w/wm it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS P. TAYLOR, a citizen of the United States,residing at Bridgeport,in the county ofFairfield and State ofConnecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inBustles; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in bustles;but more especially to such bustles as embody the folding or collapsingprinciple.

The object of my invention is to provide a bustle whichshall be aperfect folder, and in which the spring action shall be smooth and easy.

With these ends in view my invention consists in the details ofconstruction hereinafter to be set forth, and then recited in theclaims.

To the end that such as are skilled in the art to which my inventionappertains may fully understand its operation and how to make the same,I will describe my improved device in detail, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings,which form a part of this specification, and inwhich- Figure 1 is a perspective showing the bustle in distendedposition, and Fig. 2 a detail showing the connection of the bows to thepivot-wire.

Like reference-numbers indicate the same parts in both figures.

1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 are the distending-bows more or less in number may beusedwhich comprise the expanding element of my device. To the uppermostof these bows 1 any suitable waistband,6, may be secured, as seen atFig. 1. Both ends of each of these bows are pivoted upon wires, whichare in the same transverse plane, thereby giving to the bustleapproximately the shape of a quarter-sphere. ranging the hows it is mypreferred construction to have the central bow, 3, outermost, as to itsends upon the pivotwires, next inward, 2 and 4, and innermost, 1 and 5.This order is not, however, essential, and may be varied. I find ituseful, however, as it causes all the other bows to swing when collapsedinto the central bow, 3.

7 are the pivot-wires upon which the bows In ar- (No model.)

turn. The outer ends of these wires are bent upward at right angles andare secured to the outerbow by means of clasps 8. The inner ends of saidwires are provided with eyes 9, which prevent any release of the bows byslipping in ward, and between which a lacing-cord, 10, is extended forpurposes of lateral adjustment and for keeping the bustle in shape. Apair of springs, 11, secured to eyes 12, upon the bows 1 and 5, andconvoluted about the lacingcord, furnish the resilient element of thebustle and tend to throw and retain it open at the position shown atFig. 1.

A spacing-tape, 13, connects all the bows and determines their positionrelative to each other.

When collapsed,thebows fold one within the other, as shown in detail,Fig. 2. \Vhen pressure is released, the expansion of the springs throwsthem outward to their distended position.

I claim-.

1. In a bustle, the combinatiomwith a series of pivoted distendingbowsadapted to nest in collapsing, and all pivoted as to their ends in thesame plane, of a pair of pivot-wires whereon said bows are arranged,said wires being bent up at their outer ends and secured to one of thebows and having eyes at their inner ends, a laeingcord extended betweensaid eyes, whereby the width of the bustle may be controlled and varied,a pair of springs an ranged between the topmost and lowermost bows, andasuitable waistband and check-tape.

2. A bustle, the same consisting of the dis tending-bows arranged tocollapse together, apair of wires whereon the ends of the bows arepivoted, said wires being turned up at their outer ends and secured tothe outside bow, and having eyes at their inner ends, a spacing-tapeconnecting all the bows, a lacing-cord extended laterally between theeyes of the pivot-wires, a suitable waistband and a pair of springsarranged between the top and bottom bows and convolutedaboutthelacing-cord, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS P. TAYLOR.

Witnesses:

S. H. HUBBARD,- S. S. WILLIAMSON.

